Most of 11 closed Ohio churches get summer reopening dates

CLEVELAND â€” Two of the 11 local Roman Catholic churches closed but later spared by the Vatican are back in operation, and reopening dates are set for all but two of the remaining facilities.

Three churches will reopen this weekend. Four more will reopen between July 25 and Aug 12.

The churches were among 50 closed or merged by the Diocese of Cleveland because of declining congregations, finances and priests. The Vatican sided with parishioners who appealed and said the closings weren't done properly.

One of the churches without a reopening date is still waiting to be assigned a pastor. The other is the former home of a parish that broke away from the diocese and moved to a commercial building after its church was closed.